Stocks plummeted and Schnatter soon disappeared from television and promotional materials, as the company attempted to distance itself from its chief pitchman.

Now, O'Neal has signed a marketing agreement with the company, which has more than 5,000 stores and 1,200 employees.

Shaquille O?Neal
FILE - In this Dec. 22, 2016, file photo, retired Hall of Fame basketball player Shaquille O'Neal smiles as he talks to reporters during an NBA basketball news conference in Miami. WAGA-TV reported on March 16, 2017, that O'Neal bought new furniture for the family of a 5-year-old Atlanta girl who survived a dog attack that left another child dead. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz, File)(Photo: Alan Diaz, AP)

“I have truly enjoyed the high-quality Papa John’s product for years and am excited to be able to help Papa John’s raise their game to new heights,” O’Neal said in a statement. “Papa John’s is building a better culture, and I want to be a part of improving the Company from the inside out.”

It's unclear what form that marketing agreement will take, though Shaq has long been the public face of many companies.

In addition to his lengthy NBA career spanning from 1992 until 2011, he's taken his large personality off the court with ventures in music, film and television.

The NBA Hall of Famer can already be seen on television as an analyst on Inside The NBA and as a spokesperson for a variety of products, including IcyHot, Carnival cruises and The General insurance.

No stranger to the restaurant industry, O'Neal is the founder and owner of Big Chicken, a fried chicken restaurant in Las Vegas, and Shaquille’s, a restaurant in Los Angeles.

He's also the owner of a Krispy Kreme Doughnuts franchise in Atlanta, and as part of his pizza partnership he'll become an investor in nine Papa John's restaurants in the Atlanta area.

"We are thrilled to partner with Shaquille and welcome him to the Papa John’s Board,” said Jeff Smith, chairman of the Papa John’s board. “Shaquille has an excellent entrepreneurial background, including as a restaurant franchise owner, and is a natural creative marketer."

Smith was named chairman of the board of directors last month after company executives agreed to sell a $200 million stake to Starboard Value, a New York-based investment fund that Smith leads.

O'Neal's entry comes on the heels of a deal struck with Schnatter earlier this month that avoided an all-out public battle over his membership on the board.